'Pants on the ground' carjacking suspect captured

Jul. 6, 2013
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by Doug Richards, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

by Doug Richards, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

JONESBORO, Ga. -- Police credited a questionable fashion decision by an alleged carjacker for his for the quick capture of a suspect in an armed carjacking Friday.

Police say Elijah Freeman, 20, stole a car at gunpoint Friday morning in Clayton County, south of Atlanta. After a short chase, police say Freeman crashed the stolen car on the front lawn of Clayton County police headquarters.

Police say Freeman then tried to flee on foot but was unable to run well because he was wearing what a popular song called "pants on the ground."

With his pants falling toward his knees, police say they were able to capture Freeman within seconds. As the suspect sat in a patrol car -- wearing only his boxer shorts and a T-shirt -- an investigator examined the suspect's fallen pants, crumpled on the ground nearby.

An investigator said too-baggy pants have given law enforcement an advantage when pursuing suspects in the past.

"I have found in my experience it's very helpful to law enforcement" to chase suspects struggling with their falling pants, Clayton police Maj. Kevin Roberts said. "It's to our benefit."